Vienna

I was schedule to go to Vienna for work...and then a call came 2 hours before my train was to leave saying that I wasn't needed there. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT! I was planning on working on the train, considering 3 hours of quiet and isolation a thing to be coveted! I was also looking forward to some art museums and, of course, Starbucks. The Vienna Starbucks is the "closest" one to our home. (That just cracks me up to type it...my neighborhood Starbucks...located in Vienna!)

My sweet husband saw disappointment & despair descend upon me and suggested that I go anyway...since I had a ticket & reservations already. So I packed my bag and caught the train...for a day by myself in one of my favorite cities. What a blessed experience. To do my work, listen to audio books, visit the museum during "late" hours, enjoy a cinnamon dolce latte and KNIT. If my husband had been there to share it with me it would have been a perfect day...it was pretty high on the scale even with him & the kids at home!

Since it has late hours till 9pm on Thursdays time made the choice that I'd go to the National Gallery. The Kunsthistorisches Museum was having a special exihibition of Archimboldo, the godfather of modern art. They have four of his "season" paintings in their normal collection - but had up to 80 other items in the exhibit. Wonderful to see.

One hallway had four photos taken where normal household items are placed & photographed to look like portraits of famous people - Archimboldo style. Very cool. The Rembrandt & Einstein were incredible. (See Einstein photo on this post) There was a Dali portrait I think he'd love. Very cool hallway experience!

There was also an exihibition on loan from the National Treasury of Taiwan. It included porcelain (which they invented way before the Europeans), metals, jems. calligraphy & paintings. There was 12 m long scroll drawing of a town along the river during a festival week. It couldn't have been more accurately produced by a computer and techology today. It was minute, gorgeous, drawing - actually mesmirizing. 1000 years later and it is in perfect condition and would challenge artists today. Just stunning.

I already mentioned Cinnamon Dolce Latte...

I began knitting another dog for a baby boy we love, Tobi. I decided to increase the length of the torso to make him look more like the dogs in the book "Go Dog, Go". Photos soon. It's fun to work with chunky cashmerino from Debbie Bliss again. A great pattern and delightful cherry red squishy yarn on dark wood needles...the pefect addition to a day in Vienna!